The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-02-03

| We last beheld Abram journeying Southward
| in Canaan. There has been long dlouth in
the land, and the herds are suffering for pas
| turage. He took his flocks and his household
and went into Egypt, which was literally a
| land of plenty, being very fertile and generally
producing good crops After sojourn in
Egypt, Abram, having accumulated a goodly
amount of worldly riches, was in condition to
| again take up a wandering life. In Egypt his
| wife Sarai, a very beautiful woman, attracted
! the attention of the royal household, and Pha-
| raon, the King, had her brought into his house.
| Abram, 10 protect his own life from the custom
of the times denied that Sarai was his wife, or
| rather affirmed that she was his sister.
The Lord scourged Pharaoh, and the latter or
dered Abram sent out of his Kingdom. This
brings us to the Lesson. Abram had vast pos
sessions in cattle and precious metals He jour
neyed from Egypt TO The place where he had be-
fore erected an altar, between Bethel and Hal,
in Canaan. There he Offered up praises to the
Lord and sought communion with him. Lot
was with Abram. There is presented in the ex-
perience of these two al this point, striking
illustration of the weakness of humanity in
time of want, and impatience in the absence of
some of the common temporal blessings, The
land was not rich enough to supply sustenance
to the people and the herds, and as a conse-
quence of this difficulty, disseusions arose. Oh,
that we could be bound together by closer tie
of charitable sympathy under such circumsan
ces. These two decided that peace could only
be found in separation, and Lot chose as his
possessions the plains of Jordan, and journeyed
east. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and
pitched his tent toward Sodom. They dwelt in
teuts, and lived comparatively wandering
life permitting their flocks TO feed and they fol-
lowing up.
We see in this Lesson that God kept Abram,
fully, and gave him wisdom to act for the good |
of himself and those about him. The manner
of settling the quarrel, as shown here, is one
that should be made a study by every Christian |
student-if thy people and my people cannot |
ae1ee if bv the exercise OF whatsoever of grace |
we possess we cannot life in peace and brother |
Iy love- then choose thy way, and will choose |
mine. To quarrel is not Chrisian-like, Great |
riches often breed diSSenSions among those who |
should be bound by ties of love as well as kim
ship. The people of Lot and his uncle Abram,
that is the servants or help, could not stand
prosperity without unpleasant relations. What
the Christian character should contain, is the
p pwer 10 consider calmly the difficulties that
may alise, ar d i'll them all, and through them
all, to trust the Divine Father, fully. BE ready
and willing at all times, TO give perfect obed-
ience to Gods commands. And you will find
that he will never betray a trust reposed in
him. You may be fathless-God is always
faithful. You may be timid with regard TO
starting upon a Christian journcy-God will
not permit his faithful and obedient children
to perish. Let us so live that we will be able to
praise the name of the blessed Lord 1T all times.
John Wilhelm, of Portsmouth, has
made an assignment to EX-Sheriff Fin
ney. Mr. Wilhelm is one of the old busi-
ness men of Portsmouth, and his misfor-
tune is attributed to his having built
forty-thousand-dollar Opera House, thus
creating a debt too heavy to be carried. |